Rising costs and price pressures set backdrop for milk conference

A CONFERENCE will be told in Dublin on Thursday that production costs were four cent per litre higher and profit three cent per litre lower on liquid milk farms compared with the average spring milk farm last year.

The annual Teagasc liquid milk conference will take place against a backdrop of rising feed costs and pressure on prices

Teagasc analysis shows the price of inputs such as feed and fertiliser has risen substantially over the past year, hitting liquid milk producers hard as they tend to have higher input systems because of the out of season nature of the business.

Dr Joe Patton, Teagasc Dairy Production Research Centre Moorepark, said there is clearly no place for the production of surplus milk in the winter months that doesn’t attract a winter bonus.

The conference will be told that with feed prices rising, liquid milk producers need to search carefully for value for money when purchasing winter feeds and forages.

Speakers will also stress that taking control of herd fertility is essential when planning the appropriate calving pattern to match the winter bonuses.

British genetics expert Dr Mike Coffey will outline the role of longevity in the high yielding cow, while Teagasc fertility researcher Dr Stephen Butler will identify technologies to improve heat detection in dairy cows while indoors.

Dr Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc nutrition specialist, will compare the current cost of feedstuffs and identify which feeds are currently overpriced and which represent value for money.

Farmer speakers will also address the challenges facing the sector.